Friday, July 06, 2007

Turkish government, military agree on Iraq incursion plans; 'Everything can happen in one day'

Above: PKK fighters in Iraq.

Turkey's government and military have agreed on detailed plans for a cross-border operation against Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq, the foreign minister said Friday.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul urged the United States and Iraq, which oppose a Turkish military move into Iraq, to crack down on rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. But he said Turkey was ready to stage an offensive if necessary.

"We have decided how to act, everything is clear," Gul told private NTV television. "We know what to do and when to do it," he said without providing details.

Turkey has long complained of U.S. inaction against separatist rebels, who have escalated attacks in Turkey in recent months. Last week, Turkey's military chief asked the government to set political guidelines for an incursion into northern Iraq.

Asked whether the government would discuss a possible cross-border offensive during a Cabinet meeting next week, Gul said: "Everything can happen in one day."